In November, 1943, four Officers and six enlisted men completed their specialized training and became ready for training as a crew on a
B-17 Bomber. They were sent to the Dalhart Army Air Base in Dalhart, Texas for this training which they completed in February 1944. They were given a new B-17 to fly to England on February 26, 1944. Their first refueling stop was at Goose Bay Labrador where bad weather resulted in near tragedy. Forced to return back to Presque Isle, Maine they ran out of fuel and crash-landed in five feet of snow near Lake St. John. Luckily no one was injured. They were then sent to New York City where the crew flew on separate flights to Scotland in March 1944. They were reunited at the 305th Bomb Group, 366th Bomb Squadron at Chelveston, England where they began their tour of duty. This is a story of a combat crew who flew under the command of Capt. J. W. Lincoln and was thereafter called the Capt. Lincoln Crew. This story tells about the crews tragedy of being shot down very early in their attempt to complete the required 25 missions in their tour of duty with the Eighth Air Force. You will learn what the tragedy was like at home from the letters written by the parents and wives of the crew and how the surviving eight crew members evaded capture by the enemy thanks to the French and Belgium people.
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Guignicourt 2006/11/11
 Dear Virgil,
I was fascinated by the account of the events which you went through during the Second World War as a member of the “Lincoln team” on the bomber B17 lost over our land. I am currently trying to find any direct or indirect witnesses of your repatriation to England following you clandestine stay in Guignicourt.
Aged 9 at that time in May 1944, I do however hold some memories of this period. I remember seeing some kilometres from my home, a bomber which had been hit, only to disintegrate in the sky. It was without doubt American. I cannot now remember how many parachutes I saw opening before descending to the ground. I can still see the wings which had come apart from the fuselage come down through the air like wildly fluttering dead leaves. In August 1944 I felt the great headiness of the joy of liberation when the American tanks, M5s, entered my village.
Guignicourt has had a debt towards the United States of America since the First World War. An American pilot named Richard Mortimer died in air combat near our village. His mother made an important donation to our community which allowed it to build an infant school and temporary housing, much needed as the village was almost entirely destroyed. The school is named after this war hero. In recognition of the liberation in 1944 by American troops, the street on which I live is called ‘rue Franklin Roosevelt’.
Last year I went to the Normandy landings beaches and had many thoughtful and contemplative moments during my visits to the cemeteries around the area where many of our allies are buried; Americans, Englishmen and Canadians alike who fell in June 1944. I am filled with admiration and thanks towards these many young from so long ago who left their countries and families to come and free France from the menace of Nazism. Many gave their lives as did your fellow Lincoln crew members, Isaac Denemy and James Mayfield following the crash of your aircraft. May they rest in peace.
It was with great regret that I was not able to meet you when you visited Guignicourt in 1985.
Please be assured, dear Virgil, of my infinite gratitude for your continuing commitment to our country.
Thank you !
With warm regards
 Jacques Germain
PS The above text was translated by an English friend and neighbour, for which I thank her. It was not translated, as previously, by translation software.
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